Adults Need More Activity

Regular physical activity is vital for healthy aging. It can help delay, prevent, or manage many costly chronic diseases. Physical activity can also reduce the risk of premature death. Despite these benefits, a new study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 31 million adults aged 50 and older (28%) are inactive. Inactivity is defined as not getting any physical activity beyond basic movement from daily life activities.

The study found that among U.S. states and DC, the percentage of inactivity:

• Ranged from 17.9% in Colorado to 38.8% in Arkansas.
• Was higher among women, Hispanics and non-Hispanic blacks, and adults with ≥1 chronic disease than their counterparts.
• Decreased as education increased and increased as weight status increased.

Helping inactive people become more active is an important step towards healthier communities. Many adults age 50 years and older want to be active but face barriers in their communities. Everyone, including federal, state, and local governments, transportation engineers and community planning professionals, and community organizations can play a role in helping communities offer design enhancements and healthy lifestyle programs to create a culture that supports physical activity.

For more information and the full press release, please visit Millions of adults 50 years and older are not getting any physical activity.